Car Review: Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS

This week we test-drove the Subaru Impreza 2.5 RS Sedan, an agile and sporty offering from the company famous for its all-wheel drive rally cars. The Impreza is a solid, well-built vehicle that is ideal for people who live in an area where less than perfect roads, harsh winters, or heavy rain are found. This is thanks to its world-class all-wheel drive system that allows for maximum traction on slippery surfaces.

performance

The Impreza features a 2.5-liter, horizontally opposed four cylinder. It cranks out 165 horsepower at 5,600 rpm, but more importantly, it has an impressive 166 lb-ft of torque at 4000 rpm. Torque is the twisting force that gets a vehicle moving, and it is what you really feel when pulling away from a stoplight. The Impreza easily blows away the competition when it comes to power.

All that power would be useless without being able to put it to the ground in an efficient way. That's where the all-wheel drive comes in, and Subaru's experience with this type of system is clearly evident. By transferring power to wheels that grip, the car scrambles forward, unencumbered by any surface or weather condition.

The suspension, with independent MacPherson struts at each corner, is quite stiff with very little body roll in the corners. While this does not make for the most comfortable ride, it does allow for aggressive driving, with a high degree of pure pleasure.

all-wheel drive

Subaru features two different AWD systems. Cars with 5-speed manual transmissions come with a system that splits power evenly between the front and rear wheels, and power is automatically transferred to the wheels that have the best grip. Automatic-transmission Subarus have a system that biases power towards the front wheels. Electronic sensors adjust power to the wheels that have the best grip.

The manual system, as on my test car, is geared towards performance and results in a neutral handling balance with excellent grip. The automatic system feels like a front-wheel drive car, with supplementary AWD advantages when needed.

But don't think that this car is all go and no show. It is an aggressively styled sports sedan, with deep front fascia, a scoop and air vents on the hood, and big round fog lights that stay true to its rally car heritage. Colored alloy wheels and sporty, low-profile tires complete the racy look.